diff options
author | Ben Loftis <ben@glw.com> | 2008-03-24 00:11:15 +0000 |
---|---|---|
committer | Ben Loftis <ben@glw.com> | 2008-03-24 00:11:15 +0000 |
commit | d0b0e3f7dd4bd80a9f003bbb9cfbcf0af8c38400 (patch) | |
tree | 5e804e31b887388e84ea72e31e35a22afb8d18b7 | |
parent | cd0cf5def7598792aad6344cb2e03ed5d81bb1ec (diff) |
tweaks to audio import dialog, adding tags and freesound info
git-svn-id: svn://localhost/ardour2/branches/2.0-ongoing@3166 d708f5d6-7413-0410-9779-e7cbd77b26cf
-rw-r--r-- | manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml | 465 |
1 files changed, 167 insertions, 298 deletions
diff --git a/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml b/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml index 1aba2db49d..e3ab54d40a 100644 --- a/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml +++ b/manual/xml/using_existing_audio.xml @@ -1,46 +1,43 @@ -<?xml version="1.0" standalone="no"?> - -<!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [ - -]> - +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN" +"http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd"> <chapter id="ch-using-existing-audio"> <title>Using Existing Audio</title> - <para> - There are two primary ways to bring data into Ardour: recording it - within a session from a live sound source or importing pre-existing - audio files. This section covers the various ways to import audio into a - session. - </para> + + <para>There are two primary ways to bring data into Ardour: recording it + within a session from a live sound source or importing pre-existing audio + files. This section covers the various ways to import audio into a + session.</para> <section id="importing-and-embedding"> <title>Importing and Embedding</title> - <para> - Importing and embedding are two different methods of using existing - audio files on your computer (or network file system) within a - session. They differ in one key respect: - </para> + + <para>Importing and embedding are two different methods of using existing + audio files on your computer (or network file system) within a session. + They differ in one key respect:</para> <variablelist> - <title></title> <varlistentry> <term>Importing</term> + <listitem> - <para> - An existing audio file is copied to the session's sounds folder, - and is converted into the session's native format (WAVE or - Broadcast WAVE depending on your choice) and sample rate. - </para> + <para>An existing audio file is copied to the session's sounds + folder, and is converted into the session's native format (WAVE or + Broadcast WAVE depending on your choice) and sample rate. At this + time, no control over the conversion process is offered. If sample + rate conversion is required, it will be carried out at the highest + quality that Ardour can provide. This means that it can be rather + slow (many minutes to import an audio file lasting a few + minutes).</para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Embedding</term> + <listitem> - <para> - An existing audio file is used as a the source for a region, but - is not copied or modified in any way. - </para> + <para>An existing audio file is used as a the source for a region, + but is not copied or modified in any way.</para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> @@ -48,395 +45,267 @@ <section id="supported-external-audio-file-formats"> <title>Supported External Audio File Formats</title> - <para> - The list of audio file formats that Ardour can import/embed is quite - long. It is based on the functionality offered by libsndfile, an - excellent and widely used software library by Australian programmer - Erik de Castro Lopo. As libsndfile's capabilities expand, so will - Ardour's abilities to import (and export) new formats. Ogg/Vorbis (an - excellent, unpatented and license free audio compression format - similar to MP3) is planned for the near future. Currently, supported - formats include: - </para> + + <para>The list of audio file formats that Ardour can import/embed is quite + long. It is based on the functionality offered by libsndfile, an excellent + and widely used software library by Australian programmer Erik de Castro + Lopo. As libsndfile's capabilities expand, so will Ardour's abilities to + import (and export) new formats. Ogg/Vorbis (an excellent, unpatented and + license free audio compression format similar to MP3) is planned for the + near future. Currently, supported formats include:</para> <itemizedlist> <listitem> - <para> - Microsoft WAV - </para> + <para>Microsoft WAV</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - SGI/Apple AIFF/AIFC - </para> + <para>SGI/Apple AIFF/AIFC</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Sun AU/Snd - </para> + <para>Sun AU/Snd</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Raw (headerless) - </para> + <para>Raw (headerless)</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Paris Audio File (PAF) - </para> + <para>Paris Audio File (PAF)</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Commodore IFF/SVX - </para> + <para>Commodore IFF/SVX</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Sphere/NIST WAV - </para> + <para>Sphere/NIST WAV</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - IRCAM SF - </para> + <para>IRCAM SF</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Creative VOC - </para> + <para>Creative VOC</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - SoundForge W64 - </para> + <para>SoundForge W64</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - GNU Octave MAT4.4 - </para> + <para>GNU Octave MAT4.4</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Portable Voice Format - </para> + <para>Portable Voice Format</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - Fasttracker 2 XI - </para> + <para>Fasttracker 2 XI</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - HMM Tool Kit HTK - </para> + <para>HMM Tool Kit HTK</para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> - <para> - Sample encodings supported include: - </para> + <para>Sample encodings supported include:</para> <itemizedlist> <listitem> - <para> - Unsigned and signed 8, 16, 24 and 32 bit PCM - </para> + <para>Unsigned and signed 8, 16, 24 and 32 bit PCM</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - IEEE 32 and 64 floating point - </para> + <para>IEEE 32 and 64 floating point</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - U-LAW - </para> + <para>U-LAW</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - A-LAW - </para> + <para>A-LAW</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - IMA ADPCM - </para> + <para>IMA ADPCM</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - MS ADPCM - </para> + <para>MS ADPCM</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - GSM 6.10 - </para> + <para>GSM 6.10</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - G721/723 ADPCM - </para> + <para>G721/723 ADPCM</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - 12/16/24 bit DWVW - </para> + <para>12/16/24 bit DWVW</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - OK Dialogic ADPCM - </para> + <para>OK Dialogic ADPCM</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - 8/16 DPCM - </para> + <para>8/16 DPCM</para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> </section> <section id="using-audio-files"> - <title> Using audio files as tracks or regions? </title> - <para> - When you want to use existing audio files in an Ardour session, the - first choice you need to make is whether you want to bring the files - in as tracks or as new regions. Consider the two following scenarios: - </para> + <title>Using audio files as tracks or regions?</title> + + <para>When you want to use existing audio files in an Ardour session, the + first choice you need to make is whether you want to bring the files in as + tracks or as new regions. Consider the two following scenarios:</para> <itemizedlist> <listitem> - <para> - you have an 8 track recording of existing material, with 1 audio - file per track - </para> + <para>you have an 8 track recording of existing material, with 1 audio + file per track</para> </listitem> <listitem> - <para> - you have a sample library containing 500 small audio files - </para> + <para>you have a sample library containing 500 small audio + files</para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> - <para> - In the first case, your goal is probably to have 8 tracks (at least), - with each track containing a single audio file. In the second case, - its a lot more likely that you simply want to be able to use any of - the samples easily, but do not want any tracks created as a direct - result of the import/embed. It is very important that you understand - this distinction: many new users think there should be a "simple" way - to import existing audio without understanding that the goal of - importing/embedding is not always the same. - </para> - - <para> - Ardour provides two different options when importing. You can - import/embed audio files as new tracks, or you can import/embed them - into the region list, where they will be available as regions to put - into new or existing tracks. You can also insert import/embed audio - files directly into an existing track. - </para> - </section> - - <section id="importing-an-audio-file-as-a-new-track"> - <title> How to import an audio file as a new track </title> - <para> - Click on the <guimenuitem>Edit</guimenuitem> item in the editor's menu - bar. From the popup menu that appears, choose <menuchoice> - <guimenu>Import</guimenu> <guisubmenu>...as new tracks</guisubmenu> - </menuchoice>. The Audio Library/File Chooser window will appear. - After you have made your selection of files to import, click the - button at the bottom of that window (it will say something like - "Import selected regions as new tracks"). - </para> - </section> - - <section id="embedding-an-audio-file-as-a-new-track"> - <title> How to embed an audio file as a new track </title> - <section id="embedding-an-audio-file-drag-and-drop"> - <title> Drag-n-Drop </title> - <para> - If you use a file manager such as Nautilus or Konqueror ((basically, - any tool that uses standard "list-of-URL's" encoding for - drag-n-drop)), the simplest method to import files as tracks is to - drag-n-drop. Select the files you want to embed in the file manager, - drag the selection into Ardour and drop it over an area of the - editor's track/arrange display where there are no tracks. The files - will be embedded as 1 new track per file. - </para> - </section> - - <section id="embedding-audio-file-using-edit-menu"> - <title> Edit menu </title> - <para> - Click on the <guimenuitem>Edit</guimenuitem> item in the editor's - menu bar. From the popup menu that appears, choose <menuchoice> - <guimenu>Embed</guimenu> <guisubmenu>...as new tracks</guisubmenu> - </menuchoice>. The Audio Library/File Chooser window will appear. - After you have made your selection of files to embed, click the - button at the bottom of that window (it will say something like - "Embed selected regions as new tracks"). 1 new track will be created - for each file. - </para> - </section> - </section> - - <section id="importing-audio-as-a-new-region"> - <title> Importing as a new region </title> - <para></para> - </section> - - <section id="embedding-audio-as-a-new-region"> - <title> Embedding as a new region </title> - <para></para> - - <section id="embedding-audio-drag-and-drop"> - <title> Drag-n-Drop </title> - <para></para> - </section> - - <section id="embedding-audio-region-list-menu"> - <title> Region List Menu </title> - <para></para> - </section> + <para>In the first case, your goal is probably to have 8 tracks (at + least), with each track containing a single audio file. In the second + case, its a lot more likely that you simply want to be able to use any of + the samples easily, but do not want any tracks created as a direct result + of the import/embed. It is very important that you understand this + distinction: many new users think there should be a "simple" way to import + existing audio without understanding that the goal of importing/embedding + is not always the same.</para> + + <para>Ardour provides two different options when importing. You can + import/embed audio files as new tracks, or you can import/embed them into + the region list, where they will be available as regions to put into new + or existing tracks. You can also insert import/embed audio files directly + into an existing track.</para> </section> <section id="how-to-import-embed"> <title>How to import/embed</title> - <para> - Begin by clicking on the titlebar of the region list in the editor - window. Select <guimenuitem>Import</guimenuitem> from the menu that - appears, and the Sound File Database will be displayed. See sfdb for - more details on using this dialog. - </para> - - <para> - Once you have found and selected the files you want to import, click - the "Import Selected" button on the SFDB dialog. Each selected audio - file will be copied into the session's sounds folder, converted into - the session's native format and sample rate. One or more new regions - will be placed in the "External" section of the region list, either - one per channel of each file or, if "create multichannel regions" was - selected in the SFBD dialog, one per file. - </para> - - <para> - If you use Nautilus as your file manager, you can easily import files - into your project by dragging them onto the desired track, then - releasing the mouse button. The file will then be - <link linkend="gt-embed">embedded</link> into your session. - </para> - - <para> - At this time, no control over the conversion process is offered. If - sample rate conversion is required, it will be carried out at the - highest quality that Ardour can provide. This means that it can be - rather slow (many minutes to import an audio file lasting a few - minutes). - </para> + + <para>There are three pathways for importing/embedding an audio file into + a session. One is initiated from the File menu, one is initiated from the + track context menu, and one is initiated from the region list. These + methods are all equivalent: they open the file import dialog. Once the + dialog is open, you can choose to add new audio as new tracks, as regions + in the region list, or as audio in the selected track. You can change this + behavior once the dialog is opened.</para> + + <para><caution> + <para>If you want to import a file directly into an existing track, + you must have the track selected in the editor before beginning the + import. </para> + </caution>If you use Nautilus as your file manager, you can easily + import files into your project by dragging them onto the desired track, + then releasing the mouse button. The file will then be <link + linkend="gt-embed">embedded</link> into your session.</para> </section> <section id="how-to-embed-a-file"> - <title> How to embed a file </title> - <para> - There are two pathways for embedding an audio file into a session. One - is initiated from the region list, and simply creates one or more new - regions. The other is initiated from a specific track, and not only - adds regions to the region list, but also inserts them into the - track's playlist. - </para> + <title>Working with Tags</title> + + <para>A "tag" is bit of information, or <emphasis>metadata</emphasis>, + that is associated with a data file. Specifically, tags are keywords or + terms that you feel have some relevance to a particular soundfile. Ardour + can store these tags in a seachable database so that you can quickly + search for sounds based on the tags that you have assigned to them. For + example you can assign the term "120bpm" to a sound, and then when you + search for this tag, the file will appear in the search list. Tags are + independent of the filename or anything else about the file. Tags, and the + file paths that they are associated with, are stored in a file called + "sfdb" in your Ardour user folder. </para> <section id="embedding-via-the-region-list"> - <title>Embedding via the region list</title> + <title>Adding tags to a file</title> + <orderedlist> <listitem> - <para> - click with 1 on the region list title bar. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Select Import audio file from the menu that appears. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - The SFDB dialog appears. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Select the files you want to import - </para> + <para>Select a file in the import dialog.</para> </listitem> + <listitem> - <para> - then click on the <guibutton>Embed Selected</guibutton> button. - </para> + <para>Enter the tags in the box to the right labeled "Tags".</para> </listitem> </orderedlist> - <para> - New regions are added to the External section of the region list. - </para> + + <para>Tags are stored when the input box loses focus, there is no reason + to explicitly "save" them.</para> </section> <section id="embedding-from-a-track"> - <title>Embedding from a track</title> + <title>Searching for files using tags</title> + <orderedlist> <listitem> - <para> - in the track you want to add the audiofile to.The track context - menu will appear. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Select EditInsert external sndfile from this menu. The SFDB - dialog appears. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Select the files you want to import - </para> + <para>Select the "Search Tags" tab on the import dialog.</para> </listitem> + <listitem> - <para> - then click on the <guibutton>Embed Selected</guibutton> button. - </para> + <para>Enter the tag(s) to search for and press "Search".</para> </listitem> </orderedlist> - <para> - New regions are added to the "External" section of the region list, - and one is inserted into the track from which the embed was started. - </para> + + <para>Files which have been "tagged" with the input terms will appear in + the results window. You can audition these files and apply tags to them + from this window.</para> </section> </section> -<!-- + + <section id="how-to-embed-a-file"> + <title>Searching Freesound for soundfiles (optional)</title> + + <para>Freesound (http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/) is an online database with + thousands of soundfiles which can be freely used in many projects (visit + Freesound for the exact licensing terms). Ardour has an option to download + files directly from freesound directly from the import dialog. Freesound + files are tagged with metadata which you can use to search for relevant + sounds.</para> + + <para>To enable the Freesound search engine inside Ardour, you must build + Ardour with the option FREESOUND=yes, and you must have the "curl" library + installed. This is currently optional but may later become a standard + feature of Ardour.</para> + + <para>To download files from Freesound, you must first register for a + username and password on the freesound website. Enter this information + into the text entry boxes, enter your tags to search for, and then click + "Start Downloading". Ardour will begin downloading files, and the "Start + Downloading" button will change to say "Cancel". Clicking the "Cancel" + button will wait until the currently downloading file is finished, then + the button will switch back to "Start Downloading". The button will also + say "Start Downloading" once Ardour has downloaded all of the files that + match the given tag. In the future there may be better indication of the + file progress and better filtering on the filetypes that are + downloaded.</para> + + <para>If you later search for the same terms, you will see that the files + appear in the list more quickly, because any files in the search set that + are already downloaded won't have to be downloaded again.</para> + + <para>Sounds that are downloaded from Freesound will automatically be + given tags in Ardour that match their tags in the Freesound database. This + means that once they are downloaded, Ardour can search for the local files + very quickly using the "Search Tags" tab.</para> + </section> + + <!-- <xi:include xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude" href="Some_Subsection.xml" /> --> -</chapter> +</chapter>
\ No newline at end of file |